Care Along the Way
by Elise Atkinson, CVT
on 08/13/2010
I still have lots to do to prepare for the big trip across country. A big fear of mine is what to do if something happens to one of my girls? (Yes I call my dogs “girls” and yes I know some people think that’s strange.) I really don’t want to see another veterinarian for months – no offense intended. I also know life happens and you need to be ready.
There is so much to do it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the middle of it all. We were selling our house at the same time. Anyone who’s sold a house knows how difficult that can be. My poor dogs were dealing with multiple showings and Mommy and Daddy stressed out all the time.
When I need help I usually turn to the internet first – of course AAHA pops up as a front runner for pet information. AAHA’s Healthypet.com website has a huge section on pet relocation and travel. The tool that I really like is the “Trip Planner”.
It’s this neat thing that plots all the AAHA accredited hospitals along your route. You enter your start address and your end address and it fills in the blanks. It works like Google Maps or MapQuest. I was really impressed with how many hospitals popped up on my search. I printed the list and put it in a file. It would go in the bag of “Important Things” along with the medical records I may need to give to a new veterinarian along the way.
I also have a doggie first aid kit in the bag for minor things I can handle. If you have time, it’s a good idea to take a class about pet first aid. A lot of veterinarians offer these kinds of classes for free. That way you will know what a true emergency out on the road is.
I felt much better knowing an AAHA accredited hospital was just minutes away no matter what state we were in.
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